The UN Water Conference is back for the first time in 50 years, organized by the UN General Assembly and co-hosted by the Governments of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The event’s revival highlights the increasing necessity for action on water and water-related goals. It will focus on the sustainable development and integrated management of water resources for the achievement of social, economic and environmental objectives, the implementation and promotion of related programs and projects, as well as on the furtherance of cooperation and partnerships at all levels.

“The UN 2023 Water Conference in March must result in a bold Water Action Agenda that gives our world’s lifeblood the commitment it deserves.”
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General.

The conference will include an opening and closing session, six plenary sessions, and five interactive dialogues, as well as side events organized by participants. It will result in a summary of proceedings from the UNGA President that will feed into the 2023 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The event promises to bring together stakeholders from Governments, IFIs, NGOs, civil society, and more, working together to forge out a path to water security.

Ruth Richardson will organize a side event on behalf of INLW called “Reflections on Women, Water, Culture and Education Past, Present and Future” and Columbia University in New York is the main sponsor of the side event.

She is also been invited to speak at the side event, theme “Charting A Feminist Pathway to Inclusive and Productive Water Use and Governance” hosted by IWMI ( The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Thursday 23rd of March from 10.00 am to 12.30 am at 62 Orchard St. 2 Floor, Manhattan, NY 10002 and will also be broadcast through an online Zoom link. She will be speaking at the side event titled “Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Blue Economy through Water Action, Cooperation and Youth Engagement inside the UN Headquarters” on Friday 24th of March, from 12.30 to 13.45 PM, Conference room A.